5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force strengthen partnership through joint fires training
CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan—U.S. Marines with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, evaluated Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) during training at Camp Hansen and the W-174 Joint Okinawa Training Range Complex, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 14-17, 2026.
The training supported the JGSDF’s development of enlisted joint terminal attack controllers and included an instructor qualification evaluation for Sgt. Maj. Shota Mieno, a native of Oita Prefecture and a JTAC with the Fire Leading Company, Field Artillery Battalion, Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade.
“JTACs are fires integrators and the lynchpin of the combined arms team,” said U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Derek Rush, a native of Texas and a joint fires integrator with 5th ANGLICO, “ensuring the safe, timely and effective integration of air-to-surface fires in support of the ground force.”
According to Rush, the training helped prepare the brigade to direct fires using coalition aircraft in support of operations in the Sakishima Islands.
“We are hoping this training serves as a test run for future training with ARDB,” said Rush.
Training included simulator instruction at the Supporting Arms Virtual Trainer, a 270-degree dome that provides an immersive training environment; close air support training without live ammunition, known as dry CAS, at Camp Hansen; patrolling with simulated aircraft support at Central Training Area 3; and live-fire close air support at the W-174 Joint Okinawa Training Range Complex.
As part of his instructor evaluation, Mieno taught U.S. Marine Corps JTAC and joint fires observer (JFO) students during simulator and classroom instruction.
“Sgt. Maj. Mieno instructed both U.S. Marine Corps JTAC and joint fire observer students during a simulation class and an academic class on close air support in order to meet the requirements for JTAC-I qualification,” said JGSDF Sgt. Maj. Tomoya Tasaki, a native of Oita Prefecture and a JTAC evaluator with the brigade’s Fire Leading Company. “Both classes met the required standards.”
“This training is critical to the partnership between III Marine Expeditionary Force, the Joint Force and the JGSDF,” said Rush.
According to Tasaki, strong relationships and interoperability with partner forces, including 5th ANGLICO, are essential to the brigade’s island defense mission.
Mieno completed the evaluation and became the JGSDF’s newest JTAC instructor, expanding its capacity to train future joint terminal attack controllers.
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